USA > Iowa > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Iowa, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
234
HENRY COUNTY.
braska; Christin, wife of Charles Campbell, of Ogle Alley, Neb. The father of these children died in 1881, and the mother is still living in Marion Township,
1
Mr. and Mrs. Bowers' family consists of four chil- dren : William G., born Dec. 29, 1863; Leroy C .. born Sept 3, 1867, now attending school; Charles II., born Oet. 10, 1870; Black O., born Sept. 26, 1878, Mr. and Mrs. Bowers have given their chil- dren good educational advantages. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are greatly interested in all church work. Mr. Bow- ers is politically, a Republican, and is held in high esteem throughout the county in which he has been so long a resident, and no one more justly deserves this esteem than does he. He has taken an active interest in all public affairs, and is an influential citizen,
OHIN SAMPLE, deceased, a pioneer of Henry County, of 1839, and one of her most highly respected citizens, fell a victim to cholera June 5, 1851, his wife also dying two days later. Samuel D. Woodworth, a son-in- law of John Sample, and his two sons, all died within seven days of the appearance of the disease among them. Mr. Sample was born in Washing- ton County, Pa., with the birth of the Republic in 1776, March 23, a few years prior to the issuing of the Declaration of Independence, and his child- hood and youth were spent amid the stirring scenes of the great Revolution, from which has sprung the greatest Republie known in the history of the world. His father was an English emigrant, his mother a native of Germany, both worthy people. lohn Sample was apprenticed to a millwright, and served his time at that useful trade. In pursuit of employment he afterward wended his way to Butler County, Ohio, about the close of the last century, where he was married, Jan. 20, 1803, to Miss Ann Taylor, daughter of Henry Taylor, Mrs. Sample was born in Cincinnati April 10, 1783. Her father was a pioneer of Cin- cinnati, and a brother of hers was the first white male child born in that city. Mr. Sample removed to Randolph County, Ind., in 1818, where he en-
gaged in building mills, In the spring of 1839 he set out with his family for the then "far west" of Iowa. Their mode of conveyance was by one- horse team and two ox-teams, with the usual covered emigrant wagons. Ile located land in Tippecanoe Township, the same land now forming a part of the farm of his son-in-law, William Davis. Mr, and Mrs. Sample were blessed with a numerous family, consisting of eleven children, seven of whom grew to maturity, Mary was born Jan. 1, 1804, and was the wife of S. D. Woodworth : she died in lan- mary, 1845. Jane H. was born May 14, 1812; she married Arthur Bull, Nov. 12, 1829, and died Sept. 26, 1831. William was born June 14, 1814; he married Amanda T. Goddard, and died of cholera June 9, 1851. Robert was born Oct. 13, 1816, and died Aug. 12, 1839 ; John was born Sept. 26, 1818, and died in September, 1842; Eliza A. was born Feb. 25, 1821.
Mr. Sample was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife was an earnest Methodist. lle was a Whig in politics and his sons walked politically in his footsteps. While liv- ing in Randolph County, Ind., he was chosen one of the three judges who constituted the courts of that county, and served with honor and ability in that capacity. Ile was a man of positive views and of great force of character, upright and honor- able in all his intercourse with his fellowmen, and he enjoyed in a marked degree the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was a master me- chanic and delighted in the exercise of his skill, Hlis course westward was marked by mills of his erecting, and up to the time of his sudden death he was desirous of building another mill. His daugh- ter, Eliza A., the wife of Mr. William Davis, is the only surviving member of that once large family.
LARA d. SWAN, M. D., homeopathie phy- sieian, Mt. Pleasant, fowa, was born in St. Paul, Minn. Her parents, Andrew and Mar- garet Swan, were natives of Sweden, who emi- grated to America in their youth. They were hon- est and industrious, and died leaving Clara an orphan when she was but eight years old. She came
235
HENRY COUNTY.
to Iowa in 1873, and lived near Oakland Mills, Henry County, where she received her primary education in the public schools. In 1882 she came to Mt. Pleasant and entered Prof. Ilowe's Academy and Training School, where she took a two-years course of general study. She began reading medi- eine with Dr. J. 11. Drake in 1883, and in October, 1884, entered the Iowa State University as a medi- cal student, taking a general course of study in medicine and surgery, and graduating in the class of 1887. Immediately after receiving her diploma, she opened an office at Mt. Pleasant, lowa, where at present she is the only lady physician in actual practice.
Dr. Swan is a young lady of superior ability, and is a thorough medical student and cool rea- soner. Her misfortune in childhood of being left an orphan has taught her that self-reliance and pa- tienee necessary to win an honorable place in the profession of her choice. She realizes that she has much to contend with from the competition of the many able physicians in the city, and from the common prejudice against employing female physi- cians, especially one so young. But time remedies many things and rights many wrongs. The most eminent in the profession have been guilty of the heinous crime of once having been young, and the world is fast learning that men must not, nor can- not, monopolize the learned professions. That she may win that high rank among practitioners that is the result of steadfast determination and earnest effort, is certainly the desire of all who know her, and who admire the courage that triumphs over every obstacle.
$ ANDERS BROS. The firm of Sanders Bros. (Eddy E. and John E.) is well known in Wayland and vicinity, they having for four years done business in the village, and their trade is becoming yearly more prosperous. The brothers are both heads of families and entitled to consideration aside from their business relation- ship. Both were born in Erie County, N. Y., sons of Emmons H. and L. J. (Eddy) Sanders. The father was a native of New York, and was a man
full of promise when his death occurred. His youngest son was then unborn, and after his birth the mother, accompanied by ber children, came to this State in 1857, and until her second marriage their home was made with her parents, her father, Ezekiel Eddy, being an early and well-known eitizen in this part of the country. The Eddy family located in łowa in 1853 on a farm. Their children are ten in number-Wilbur, Alvin, Israel, Lutheria J. (mother of our subjects, ) Jenette, Diana, Zilpha, Mary, Martha and Ruby. The parents remained in this neighborhood until 1867, then removed to Oregon, where the wife died. Ezekiel Eddy yet resides in Benton, that State, and has reached his eighty-fifth year. While living near Brighton, Mrs. Lutheria Sanders wedded Christian Schafer, a gentleman of large acquaintance and wealth. He was born in Germany, near Wittem- berg, and for more than a quarter of a century was a resident of this part of Iowa, although not of this county. He was three times married, the first wife having three children-Mary, Caroline and Elizabeth. His second wife was Mrs. Kinser, who bore to her first husband one son, John Kinser. After the marriage to Mrs. Sanders the union was graced by the births of Eva M., George C. and Fredericka, the latter the wife of Dr. A. E. Moore, a resident physician of Wayland. With Mrs. Sehafer the Doctor and his wife make their home since the death of Mr. Schafer and the marriage of his daughter to the Doctor.
Our subjects were reared upon a farm, received a practical business education during their boy- hood, and in 1883 both came to Wayland, and purchased the stock of goods formerly owned by B. F. Morris. The senior member of the firm wedded Miss Samantha McClintick, of this county. They are the parents of one daughter, Anewa, now in her third year. Elizabeth Pfeiffer became the wife of John E. Sanders. They have been the parents of eight children-Emmons, Edward ; John, deceased ; Fred, deceased; Gussie, Julia, Myra and Grover C., the latter also deceased. John E. San- ders is route agent for transportation of the United States mail between Wayland and Mt. Pleasant, making tri-weekly trips.
Sanders Bros. carry a $4,000 stock of general
236
HENRY COUNTY.
merchandise, and do an annual retail trade of $7,000 or over. We are pleased to give the young men credit for their enterprise, and a place in this history of the best of families of Henry County.
OSEPH L. STEADMAN, a farmer and stock- raiser of section 24, Marion Township, was born in Bainbridge, Ross Co., Ohio, Dee. 25, 1846, and is a son of G. W. and Eliza- beth (Long) Steadman. (See G. W. Steadman's sketch on another page of this work. ) He attended school in his native town until 1861, when he en- tered the army, enlisting in Company G, 60th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The regiment was captured at Ilarper's Ferry. Va., but Joseph was taken siek with typhoid fever at Winchester, and subsequently captured and held prisoner for about two months. His mother having gone to the bedside of her siek boy, remained with him until he was exchanged and sent home. As soon as sufficiently recovered, he was sent to Chicago, where he was paid off and dis- charged in November, 1862. Returning home, he remained there until January, 1863, when he re-en- listed, in the 4th Independent Battalion of Ohio Volunteer Cavalry for six months, but remained nine in that command. The battalion was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, and participated in a number of minor engagements, but was generally engaged in scouting and foraging. After he was discharged from this regiment, he again enlisted, in the 13th Ohio Cavalry, and was in the seven-days battle of the Wilderness, also at Hatches Run, Wel- don Railroad and Five Points. On the 31st of March, 1865, Mr. Steadman was wounded in the right arm above the elbow, and was again taken prisoner. Having a good knowledge of Anderson- ville, he determined to risk his chances at escape, and did get away, but was shot at twice and missed. Not having had his wound dressed for some hours, the pain was so intense that it ahnost crazed him, but he was finally eared for, and sent to City Point. Va., and from there to Washington, D. C. He was in Ford's Theater the memorable night when our beloved President Lincoln was assassinated. This caused such an excitement and jam, that in trying
.
-
to eseape from the building he was hurt and had to be sent home on the general order of furlonghs for all disabled soldiers. He remained at home until .July, 1865, when he went to Cincinnati, and there received his discharge.
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Steadman went to Tennessee, Arkansas, and the Indian Territory, but returned home and was united in marriage, March 20, 1867, with Miss Caroline M. Mathews. She was born in Lipidelmutt, Prussia. Aug. 25, 1848. and is a daughter of Henry and Caroline L. Mathews, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Steadman are the par- ents of nine children. four of whom died in infancy ; the living are Laura L., George II., Joseph A., Ed- ward W. and Lillie Lena. After their marriage they moved to Henry County, Iowa. where they lived for six years on a farm. In 1872 they emi- grated to Elbert County, Col., where Mr. Steadman took up a soldier's claim of 160 acres, and lived on it for three years. In 1875 he sold his farm and engaged in the hotel business in South Park for about one year. Taking his family by team. he went to Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., being on the way sixty days. From there he went to Spokane Falls, where he bought a piece of land, but also ran a hotel in that place about two years. He was also engaged in the transportation business with a drove of thirty animals. His route was from the evolu- tion on South Fork of Cœur d'Alene River, to Eagle City, on the North Fork of the Cœur d' Alene River, in Idaho, then in 1885-86 feighted from Granite to Aspen, Col. Ile ran a freight team across the Continental Divide for two years. In June, 1887, Mr. Steadman returned to llemy County, after an absence of nearly fifteen years, and took charge of his father's farm of 160 aeres, where he is at present employed. Politically, he is a Repub- lican, and takes great interest in public affairs.
M ARTIN F. BURKET has been a dealer in stoves, tinware and kindred articles in Mt. Pleasant for twenty-one years. Ile was born in Iluntingdon County, Pa .. Dec. 9, 1829, and is a son of John and Lydia (Funek) Burket, both natives of Pennsylvania, and on both
237
HENRY COUNTY.
sides of German extraction. Our subject, when eight years of age, was taken by his parents to Blair County, Pa., and seven years later, when he was fifteen, to Center County, same State. In these places his boyhood days were passed, living in the latter county until he was twenty-one. Ile learned the tinsmith's trade, and when about twenty-two years of age embarked in business on his own account at Warrior's Mark, Huntingdon County, where he remained for over two years, then selling out to come west,
In the spring of 1855 Mr. Burket came to Iowa, loeating at West Point, Lee County, in which place he successfully carried on the trade until 1866, when he came to Mt. Pleasant, and here he again engaged in the business of a stove and tinware dealer, beside doing all kinds of jobbing in his line. For four years, from 1876 to 1880, he had as a partner Oliver Griffith, but in the latter year the firm sold out, and Mr. Burket worked as a journey- man until 1887, in the spring of which year he recommenced business, and now carries a full stock, besides being well prepared to do all kinds of work in his line. Ile is a good mechanic, and has always borne the reputation of an upright business man.
Mr. Burket was married in Center County, Pa., Nov. 11, 1852, to Miss Nancy Glenn, daughter of Jolin Glenn. She was born in Center County. Three children were born to them, of whom one, a daughter, Ina S., died when nineteen years old. Wilbur F. is married and lives at Lyons, Kan., and John G. is single and a resident of Page County, Kan.
Mr. and Mrs. Burket are members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party, and socially is a member of Mystic Lodge No. 55, I. O. O. F., and is per- sonally held in esteem by his neighbors and fellow- citizens.
AMES F. MILLER, farmer and stock-raiser, resides upon section 11, Jackson Township, and as one of the typical farmers of the township, we are pleased to present a sketeh of his family history. In his township, and in the
county as well, he bears an enviable reputation as a gentleman and citizen. He was born in Scott County, Ill., March 21, 1833, and is the son of Alfred and Nancy (New) Miller. Alfred Miller was born in North Carolina and his wife in Tennes- see. They were married in Illinois and all their children were born in that State. Alfred died in 1853, and his widow afterward married John B. Abbey, who was a resident of this county, and one of the first settlers in Baltimore Township. Upon the land that he entered in 1840 his widow now re- sides. Ile took the claim, made some improve- ments, and entered the lands at the first land sale held in Burlington. By her second marriage Mrs. Miller bad no heirs, but to her first husband she bore Lucinda, now deceased, who was the wife of James Six; Francis M., who became the husband of Mary Steelman; James F., who married Matilda Kirkpatrick in 1853; Lorenzo J., husband of Mi- nerva Blaney ; Adam, married to Margaret, a sister of Matilda, wife of our subject; Nancy, deceased, became the wife of Addison MeGavick; William wedded Caroline Welsh, while Alfred remains a bachelor.
In 1852 our subject came to Iowa and first located in Lee County. While there the acquaint- ance was first formed with Miss Matilda Kirkpat- rick, and her parents removing to this county in 1853, the wedding was celebrated in Henry County, where they have since resided. Her parents, Will- iam and Mary (Pratt) Kirkpatrick, were among the very first settlers of Clark's Point, Lee Co., lowa, locating there in 1834, and entering over a half section of land. They came from Sangamon County, Ill., where they were married. Miss Kirk patrick was a native of Ohio, born July 2, 1835, leaving that State when a girl ten years of age. William Kirkpatrick was a soldier during the Black Hawk War, after which he was married, and during his residence in Illinois engaged in farming. They were the parents of ten children, all born in lowa, except the two eldest, .lane and Charles. Jane, who lives in Missouri, was twice wedded, first to John Thompson, then to Grandville Arnold, both now deceased ; Charles married Sarah Stephenson, and resides near Lowell, in this county. In Iowa were born Matilda, wife of our subject; Lucinda, wife of
238
HENRY COUNTY.
William Tull: Martha, who became the wife of Thomas Dilts; Margaret, the wife of A. Miller, a brother of our subject: Emma, wedded to Marion Daggs; Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph Masters; William, who is the husband of Libbie Rank; and Joseph, wedded to Ella Marsh. All are now living.
The first land owned by Mr. Miller was his present farm. lle began domestic and agricult- ural life in this county on a rented farm in Balti- more Township, and succeeded so well that in a few years he had a farm of his own. All the nice improvements of this farm have been made since 1866, and they are of that substantial eharaeter which betokens thrift and energy. Ile has always enjoyed the confidence of his fellowmen, and although a Democrat from his first vote, has been repeatedly elected to positions of trust in his town- ship, serving as Trustee several times, Assessor three years, and having another year yet to serve. At the last election he was made a candidate with- out his knowledge, and was elected without oppo- sition. This of itself stamps him as a correct official and public-spirited man.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have seven children. Those living are: Charles F., who is wedded to Mary Staeker, living in Jackson Township: William, hus- band of Emma Brazill, now living in Nebraska; Flora, wife of A. D. Brazill, also living in Nebraska ; Clara and Linnie, living with their parents, and their birthplace in the roomy okd mansion has been to them a happy home. Those deceased are: Josephine, who was the wife of Robert Francey, and left a daughter, Stella ; and Clement, who died in infancy. All the children were born in this county, and are in every sense identified with its interests. We are pleased to thus mention this family and assign them a place among those who with them have grown gray and wealthy, since the improvement of Henry County was begun in the days of "auld lang sine." Both Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Protestant Methodist Church, and at different dates he has been Superintendent of the Sabbath-school and an officer of the church. Both were members of the first church organization of that society in this section of the country, about 1868, in the Greenwood sehoo !- house, Rev. John
Mason being the pastor. Among the first members were also William Myers, William Walters and wife, Adam Miller and wife, John Francey and wife, and others. Of these William Myers was the first Class-Leader, and our subject the first Steward. The society is still in a prosperous condition and regular services are held. By such families as those mentioned are the schools, churches, morals and wealth of a community built up, and to none is the good repute of Ilenry County more due than to Mr. Miller and family.
G EORGE W. TRIMBLE, Superintendent of the Mt. Pleasant Water Company, and a resident of Mt. Pleasant since 1855, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., April 7, 1821, and is a son of John and Mary (Carnahan) Trim- ble. His father was a native of Ireland, and came to America with his parents in infaney. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, of Scotch par- ents. The early life of George was spent on a farm, and in his youth he learned the carpenter's trade. at which he worked for some years. On the 3d of Deeember, 1853, in Westmoreland County, Pa .. he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Frey, a' daughter of Hon. Jacob Frey. Iler parents were Germans, and her father was a prominent man of that region. Five children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Trimble, one in the East, and the re- mainder in Mt. Pleasant: John W. is a druggist's elerk in Chicago; Mary died at the age of thirteen years; Charles is in British Columbia; Emma J. is the wife of Phillips Finke, a dairyman of Mt. Pleasant; Estella M. lives with her father at Mt. Pleasant. Mrs. Trimble died at Mt. Pleasant, in August, 1883.
In 1855 Mr. Trimble decided on coming West, and in June of that year landed at Burlington, lowa, where he remained a short time, and in August fol- lowing came to Mt. Pleasant, where he has since continued to reside, engaged principally in working at his trade of contracting and building. On the Ist day of January, 1886. he became connected with the water company, George B. Inman & Bro., of New York, and has since been Superintendent.
RESIDENCE AND BRICK YARD OF J. H. DAY, SEC. 34. MARION TOWNSHIP. NEAR MI PLEASANT, HENRY CO. IOWA . CAPACITY 13000 PER DAY.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
241
HENRY COUNTY.
For many years he was politically a Republican, but since the Greeley campaign of 1872 he has affiliated with the Democratic party. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, his membership being with Mystie Lodge No. 55, at Mt. Pleasant. Mr. Trimble has not been an office-seeker, but for some years was a member of the City Council. In the third of a century that he has been a resident of Mt. Pleasant, he has made many warm friends, and enjoys the respect and con- fidence of the entire community. Many of the best buildings in the city were constructed under his supervision.
AMES HARVEY DAY, residing on seetion 35, Marion Township, was born in New London, Iowa, Jan. 19, 1855. His father, Ransom Day, is a native of Logan County, Ohio, and his mother, Rachel (Cox) Day, is a native of Canada. They emigrated to Henry County about 1848, settling in New London, where he was engaged in carpenter work, which trade he had learned when a young man and still follows. When James was but an infant his parents removed to the city of Des Moines, where they resided for two years, then going to Angusta, Des Moines County, they made that place their home until 1869, when they removed to Marshall.
When a lad of fourteen years James Day went to Mt. Pleasant, where he was employed in a brick- yard as one of the burners, working in that yard until 187 1, and at last had charge of a kiln. Going to Fairfield, he worked in that city during the sum- mer of 1874 as foreman of a brickyard. Return- ing to Mt. Pleasant, he was again engaged in the old brickyard, working until 1878, when he went to Wilber, Neb., where he worked at his trade for a short time, but soon returned to Mt. l'leasant. In 1879 Mr. Day decided to go to Topeka, Kan., and in that city worked one winter at the carpenter trade, and the next spring began track work on the Santa Fe Railroad. He was then employed by the railroad company as bridge carpenter, continuing in their employ for nearly two years, and then returned again to Mt. Pleasant. He engaged to work
with the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northern Railroad, but only remained with them for two months. Going to Ketcham's, a place four miles west of Mt. Pleasant, he was engaged as Superintendent of the brickyard, being in this employ for a year, during which time he went to Missouri and made a kiln of brick. Returning to Mt. Pleasant, he again took charge of the old brickyard, manufacturing briek for the asylum. IIe made two and a half millions of brick in three years. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Day purchased seventeen acres of land and a neat cottage on seetion 35 of Marion Township, and also the brickyard formerly operated by Daniel Stephens. Upon this farm he moved, and con- tinues to carry on brick-making. This first year he has manufactured four hundred thousand bricks. HIe intends making stock briek for fronts and fine walls, and will also take contraets for supplying customers with all kinds of brick. Mr. Day is a thorough workman, and understands his profession perfectly, and of the young, enterprising business men none rank higher than our subject.
Mr. Day was united in marriage, in 1873, with Miss Elizabeth Edwards, who is a native of Henry County, and a daughter of Iliram Edwards. Nine children have graced the union of this worthy couple : Morris R, : Eddie, deceased ; William, Mat- tie: Belle, who died in infancy; Leander, Bessie, Bertha and Richard. Mr. Day holds the political views of the Republican party, while socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.